I really like Bellah's article; the focus is different than I thought it would be. But I feel like it's a powerful premise, particularly when it brings in the theological aspects behind democracy, slavery and the legacy of Lincoln, and how the values can easily be skewed. I'm sure a lot of folks would say, "It's not a religion, though; it's just a cultural movement" or something like that, but the term "religion" is growing emptier and emptier in my mind. I feel like I need some kind of vacation for it...

I think some of his points are a stretch, but perhaps that's a result of the times and places more than anything. For instance, his treatment of Memorial Day was much more involved than I've ever heard of it, but he was writing shortly after WWII and in the midst of Vietnam; the warrior cult would be accordingly much stronger. (And though I guess I've chosen a charged term for it, I don't mean disrespect by calling it a "warrior cult.") And I'm sure there are plenty of places in America that still do pursue it with that fervor.

The aspect about the spreading of the American civil religion by means of the UN was pretty mind-blowing. We really do want to spread it, and it's true that we believe it would make the world a better place. Fascinating!